Zildjian Cymbals moving jobs from Illinois to its factory in Newport

The Vic Firth Co. factory in Newport will be picking up 14 new jobs due to its parent company's purchase of an Illinois-based company whose production work will be moved to Maine.

Avendis Zildjian Co. of Massachusetts has purchased the Illinois-based Mike Balter Mallet Co. and will move its production into the Newport factory of Vic Firth Co., another Zildjian-owned company.

The Bangor Daily News reported the acquisition will create 14 new jobs at Vic Firth's factory in Newport.

Zildjian has been making cymbals since it was established in Constantinople in 1623. The company moved to Massachusetts in 1929.

Vic Firth Co. started in 1963 as a wood-turning company that also made pepper mills and rolling pins. In 2010, it merged with the Avedis Zildjian Co., the world's leading cymbal manufacturer, which had a longstanding professional relationship with Vic Firth.